2016-012 - California Environmental Quality Act

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Statement of 8.0 Project Alternatives CEQA Guidelines, Section 15126.6(c) requires that an EIR analyze a reasonable range of alternatives to the proposed project that could feasibly avoid or reduce any significant unavoidable impacts. The Draft SIR addresses the environmental effects of alternatives to the Heritage Mixed Use project. A description of these alternatives, a comparison of their environmental impacts to the proposed project, and the City's findings are provided below. These alternatives are compared against the project relative to the identified project impacts and the ability to meet the project objectives. Alternatives Considered but Eliminated CEQA Guidelines, Section 15126,6(c), states that alternatives may be eliminated from consideration in an EIR if they fail to meet most of the project objectives, are infeasible, or do not avoid or substantially reduce any significant environmental effects. In addition, alternatives that are. remote or speculative, or the effects of which cannot be reasonably predicted, also do not need to be considered (CEQA Guidelines, Section 15126.6(f)(3)), Alternative Location An alternative site for the proposed project was eliminated from further consideration. The project applicant is the owner of the project site and does not own an alternative site within Santa Ana where the proposed project could be developed. The project objectives are to redevelop an existing underatilized parcel and implement a mixed use development that would provide a balance of land uses, utilize existing infrastructure, providing additional housing near employment centers, and inalnove a gateway image to the City, all of which are consistent with the opportunities provided by the project site. The ability of the applicant to find and purchase an alternative site in Santa Ana that is large enough for the proposed project and available for redevelopment — and would achieve the project obj actives - is considered speculative. Furthermore, the project proposes use of the existing office structure, while an alternative location would require development of a new two -story 56,000 squuaro foot office building and associated surface parking that would not be required by the project and would result in greater impacts. Thus, the alternative location alternative was eliminated from further consideration. Alternative 1: No Project /No Build CEQA also requires that a "No Project" alternative be considered. Additionally, CEQA requires that an EIR identify the environmentally "superior alternative." If the "No Project" alternative is determined to be the envirommentally superior alternative, the EIR shall also identify an onviromnentally superior alternative among the other alternatives (CEQA Guidelines, Section 15126.6(e)(2)). Under this alternative, no development would occur on the project site. The project site has a City of Santa Ana, General Plan Land Use designation as PAO (Professional and Administrative Office) and is zoned as M -1 (Light Industrial). Under Alternative 1, the existing office, data center, and warehousing uses onsite would remain and the existing uses would continue to operate, pursuant to the existing lease agreements. The Henlage Mlxed Use Protect 41 ESA 1 140730 Sln lament of Facts and Findings Seplambor 2015